an Ostentatiously Austere October...join here for a frugal month ahead!

[PeoniesforMissAnnersley]

All welcome to join the MN frugaleers for another month of recording our spends, frugal wins and frugal fails!

NSD = No Spend Day (let's have as many as possible!)

LSD = Low Spend Day

well I officially had 3 and 3/4 NSD as did get a glass of wine tonight (to be fair I needed compensation when realising I was missing the bake-off final)!

Who will be the first to get 6 NSDs?! I think lists is in pole-position!

In more positive news I have £30 in my purse from selling some baby stuff this week (£27.50 after tonight )

Nearly a NSD but as dd is away at camp I went to the cinema with my mum to see Gone Girl, it was orange wed though and my mum kindly paid for the tickets. I provided the chocolate (pre bought at tescos obv )

So only spent £2.

Yesterday I bought toe seperators for DD2, £15 for a pair, sports bra for DD1, £10 -needs another next week, treat in Starbucks £10 between 3 of us, £8 top up shop but I forgot a few things, parking £3.70 and roads £2.40.

Today, £5 on a roasted chicken and apples, £2 on after school snack for DD1 before going back to collect DD2 and £10 on petrol. Still need sunblock for DD1 for school, tickets for a school performance at the weekend and probably some more apples.

Next week there will be NSDs.

Should be nsd today.
Need to call estate agents to arrange viewing.

Hello :-) can i join you all?

We have a super tight 12 months coming up and i need your sound advice and support as i have been pretty bad of late in terms of spending money we don't have.

My plan like a lot of you is to have as many low spend/no spend days as possible, cut back on my grocery budget if at all possible and just be generally frugal where i can.

I need to get organised and sell some things on Ebay- there are quite a few bits hanging around our home that i could get rid of and make a little bit of money on I'm sure.

I will read back on the thread and see what tips i can pick up but in the meantime i will be posting here daily as i need as much help as possible keeping on the straight and narrow!

Welcome rosie

I need to post something today but buyer paid postage so can I say nsd?!

I'm about to have a nap. Have an awful cold and ds had me up at 4

Sadly I won't be making it to 6 NSD. We need bread and milk and I have just used the last of the lentils for tonight's casserole.

Welcome Rosie. The mantra I keep repeating to myself is do I really NEED it? A lot of the time the answer is no.

Welcome Rosie! Had a LSD yesterday as bought new jeans in Next clearance online £13 - I can't fit into any of my old ones, grr...

Today will be a NSD as I have been out already and am not going out again.

I have found that since I bought my bread maker a couple of weeks ago, I am not really doing as many top up shops, including buying crap I didn't go in for!

Have been away from mn for a few days, finishing my assignment but I've just submitted it so I can post now!

Have listed some doll's clothes on ebay which seem to be popular so fingers crossed. Have given away some other stuff as I just want the space now and we've been helped out by hand me downs so it feels like sharing the love

Just got back from the vets as my cat needed a weight check, he has unfortunately lost more weight which is a worry they said to bring him back in 3 months to check again but if still loosing weight they will need to investigate. Ended up getting him a load of the expensive Science Diet food as recommended by the vet, however it was on 3 for 2 offer and I also took nearly £3 off in vouchers so not too bad, got 3 bags of the stuff for £27 (usually £15 a bag )

Also is anyone else starting to fret a bit about Christmas? I have normally started getting a few bits by now but just haven't had the money to get anything.

It is going to be the tightest Christmas so far I think.....

girliefriend I've been picking up things here and there and hiding them away in a cupboard, so I've got a fair bit done. Otherwise I tend to stress that one financial hit will obliterate Christmas - there's a healthy piece of paranoia over that in my head, so I give in and start shopping early.

I've done nothing about Christmas yet. I've still got DD's birthday to sort out in 10 ddays and I've not dealt with that either

Off to shops to get bread and milk and see if there is anything amazing on the reduced shelves (which there won't be at this time of day)

I've got a few bits but will probably get most bits in New York.

I finally did something about Christmas yesterday. First time I've ever been this organised.
Clicked through to the Works via Quidco and spent 14.98 - got 10 books for 10 for DD, plus 2 for DP and 1 for me (or possible a stocking filler for my Dsis). Cashback will be 3.15 and has already tracked. Pleased with 13 books for less than 12.

Just bought 4 bags of Seabrook crisps and some more dog food on the Quidco Clicksnap offer. Total cost 5.98, will get 2.50 of that back within 14 days and no need to buy snacks for a fortnight.

BTW have you seen those customer survey things which are advertised on Tesco / Asda receipts? You get entry into a prize draw but with the Tesco ones you also get 25 Clubcard points for every survey you complete. I suspect I will have very few NSDs from now on, but LOADS of LSDs...

I'm back. Not too bad. Box of 9 eggs, 6 pints of milk and a loaf of bread. Total £3.96.

The co-op gave me a £1 off when you spend £5 voucher. Will save it for the weekend fruit, bread and milk shop

I've bought one advent gift for DD. We are moving in new house in the new year so dp and me have decided to save the money and only give DD and other close family gifts

I have spent £12 ish on food for dinner tonight and tomorrow and crisps dcs feel v deprived if we dont have crisps

I have emailed nursery about getting my deposit back twice. Rang today, they are waiting for accountant.
its £50 I need right now and its their fault ds is not going there.

Just had 12 year old dd1 on phone saying she won't be going in school trip if not paid today. Hands up should of sent the form back with a note explaining I woukd pay at the end if month. Honestly, I can't magic money with a few days notice. Dd will be mortified.

Oh no furcoat can you ring the school to explain?

Dinner tonight is feta, pea and mint risotto. Mmmm

girliefriend ours will be the tightest xmas we have ever had too, bet loads of people in same boat. I have done a fair bit if mine as three of my dcs have nov/dec bdays!!

Ds is 2 next month and dp's birthday is a week before Christmas. It's very inconvenient!

I have been baking for presents for people. The total cost is about £1-50 but it is well-received and a good 'new house' type present.

Not had a NSD this week but should have them tomorrow and Sunday.

rosie welcome

I haven't bought a single thing for Christmas yet and usually by this point I have a few little bits. It just seems to come round so often, I could do with Christmas ever other year!

Been into town this afternoon and have bought dd a Christmas present playmobil Got this for £38.99 which I thought was quite good as its in a massive box and comes with loads of bits!! That will be her main present and will wait till the Sainsburys toy sale (Oct 22nd) to get her some other smaller things.

For the grown ups (mum, dad, brothers etc) will have a £5-£10 budget each and hope that most people will understand....

Today has ended up quite spendy, £3.20 in parking, £8.50 on lunch with friend although that included and lots of picked up some books in a charity shop as well, got 3 books for £3.25.